Toy metal embossing machine



Nov; 12, 1940. w. E. Rr-:XFORD ETAL 2.221,424

`TOY METAL EMBOSSING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Smetl lATTORNEY NOV- 12, 1940- w. E. RExFoRD Erm. 2,221,424

TOY METAL EMBOSSING MACHINE Filed June 25, 195s 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 2 /8 f"m 7/ 44 a f6 Y "'7 /44 KIN?" 4@ r rw- H ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 12, 1940p UNITED STATES PATENT oEricE TOY METAL EMBOSSING MACHINE YorkApplication June 25, 1938, Serial No. 215,848

17 Claims.

This invention relates to embossing machines, especially for embossingletters or numbers on a metal tape, and more particularly to such amachine designed for use by children.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improveembossing machines, and a more particular object resides in theprovision of such a machine adapted for manufacture and sale at areasonable price for use as a toy yby children. With this same object inview, the machine is so designed as to be safe in operation, the partsbeing so arranged as to make it diiiicult for a child to injure himselfwhen using the machine.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing gen eral and other moreparticular objects which will hereinafter appear, the invention consistsin the embossing machine elements and their relation one to the other,as are hereinafter more particularly described in the specification andsought to be dened in the claims. The specification is accompanied bydrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embossing machine embodying features of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 4 is a section taken in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is explanatory of the manner in which the tape is severed by thecutting die;

Fig. 6 is a bottom View of the machine showing the relation of the partswhen the operating lever is elevated;

Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the relation` of the parts when theoperatinglever is depressed;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane of the line 8 8 inFigs. l and 3; and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the movable printing wheel, itbeing taken in the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to` the drawings, the machine comprises a base l2 on which ismounted a stationarily journalled printing wheel I4 and a movablyjournalled printing wheel I6. Wheel I4 may be rotated by means of a knobIS to select any desired letter or character to be printed. Ap-Vpropriate gearing is provided within base l2 for simultaneous rotationof wheel I6, thus keeping the wheels in registration. The Wheels may berelatively moved to impress the letter on tape 2) by means of anoperating handle 22. This is done through the medium ofk a pusher 24which bears against the periphery of wheel it and movesit toward wheelI4. The handle 22 is restored to its upward position by a `snitablere-(Cil. IS7- 6.4)

storing spring carried within base l2, and during the restoring movementtape 20 is fed forwardly by appropriate feed wheels 26 and 23. A roll oftape is carried in housing 3S, and the tape is fed intermittently instep-by-step fashion as 5 the printing wheels are actuated. After thetape has been embossed with a name or other information, the printedlength of tape is severed by means of a cutting die generally designated32 and operated by means of a separate operating 10 handle 34.

Considering the mechanism in greater detail, the printing wheel i4 ispreferably cast4 to finished shape, as by means of die-casting, thoughit may, of course, be formed in other ways. .it is formed integrallywith the knob i8, as is best shown in Fig. 8. The upper surface 35 isappropriately colored and has lettered thereon a series of letters andnumerals, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. These correspond to theimpressions on the periphery of the wheel. In the present example, thewheel I4 is a female wheel and the various letters and numbers areindented in the surface of the wheel, as is clearly shown in Fig.

3 on the periphery of the wheel. If the wheel `25 is made bydie-casting, the letters may be formed as a part of the die-castingoperation. The wheel I4 is hollowed on its underside to form the space4D, best shown in Fig. 8, thus providing room for a substantial bearing42. The wheel is formed integrally with a shaft or journal Ml receivedin bearing t2. The lower end of shaft lil is squared at t and receives aspur gear it which may be stamped out of sheet metal. Gear it is securedon squared end 45 by riveting the end of the shaft against the gear.Printing wheel ifi is supported against downward movement by reason ofthe fact that it rests directly on the upper surface of base i2. ft issupported against upward movement because gear .43 bearsagainst `4,0.

the lower end of bearing ft2. Bearing it is iixedly secured to the baseby driving the lower part of the bearing through a mating aperture inthe base as far as the collar il, whereupon the lower end of the bearingmay be staked or otherwise upset, as is indicated at 52, in order tolock the bearing in place.

The movable wheel liimates with wheel i4, and in the present case thewheel it is, therefore, male, that is, it has raised letters on itsperiphery. No knob is needed or provided for wheel It. It is also notessential to provide let'-` ters on the top surface of the wheel, but inthe present case such letters `have been provided, as is clearly shownin Fig. l, thus illustrating at grally with a shaft 54 having a squaredlower end 56. Shaft 54 is journalled in a bearing 58. This bearing maybe die-cast and is formed integrally with a rectangular plate 66, saidplate being received in a rectangular slot 62 in base I2. Referring toFig. 7, it will be seen that the width of slot 62 equals the width ofplate 68, but that slot 62 is longer than plate 68, thus permitting alimited movement of the plate to-wardfor away from the stationary wheel.The plate is guided between bearing plates 64 secured above base I2, asis best shown in Fig. 9,l and rivet heads 66 located below base I2.Plates 64 are riveted in place by means of rivets 68, and the heads ofthese rivets are made so large as to overlap the bottom of slidableplate 60, as is clearly shown in Figs. '7 and 9. The bearing is normallymoved away from the stationary printing wheel by resilient means, hereexemplified by a spring 'III best shown in Fig. 8, said spring beinglocated between a bracket 'I2 secured to the base and bearing 58.

The printing wheels are supported against wobbling, despite their singleshort bearings, and despite the movable mounting of bearing 58, becausethe wheels rest directly on the base at their peripheries.

The squared lower end 56 of shaft 54 carries a spur gear I4 which mesheswith the gear 48 previously referred to. These gears remain in mesh atall times. In Fig. 6l, the gears are shown in separated position, and itwill be seen that the teeth are long enough sothat they are still inmesh. There is also enough tooth clearance to permit the desired closingmovement of the printing wheels, and in Fig. 7 the printing wheels havebeen moved against one another, thus bringing the teeth into closermesh. This, incidentally,

, brings the printing wheels into exact desired registration, for theteeth are so vshaped that there is no appreciable sideward or rotativeplay when the wheels are moved into the close position shownin Fig. 7.

It is desirable to' provide a detent action so that the printing wheelswill naturally tend to stop on' a letter rather than between letterswhen rotating the same by means of the knob I8. In the present case, twosuch detent wheels are used, but they function as one, for the wheelsare mounted in superposition on the squared end 56 of the movableprinting wheel. The detent wheels are placed on opposite sides of gear'I4 and are made larger in diameter than the gear, thus providing ameans for maintaining gears 48 and 'I4 in mesh even though they arequite thin,- being formed of sheetmetal, though of heavy gauge.Specifically, we provide an upper detent wheel 'I6 and a lower detentwheel 78, these wheels being exactly alike and being disposed above andbelow gear 14. The detent wheels overlap gear 48 and thus hold the gears48 and I4 in edge-to-edge relation, as is clearly shown in Fig. 8 of thedrawings.

A detent roller 80 cooperates with both detent wheels. It is carried onan arm 82 pivoted at 84 and normally urged toward the detent wheel bymeans of a spring 86.

Movable wheel I 6 is moved by pusher 24 which in turn is slidable in aslot 25 in base I 2 (Fig. 6). The pusher is arcuately shaped tomate withthe periphery of wheel I6, as is best shown in Fig. 1. Moreover, thepusher is cut away, as is shown at 96 in Fig. 8, in order to clear theraised letters on the periphery of the wheel. The pressure of the pusheris thus exerted on the periphery of the wheel near the top and bottomand without danger of mutilating the letters. The pusher is guided bythe side walls of the slot in base I2. 'I'he part above base I2 is widerthan the slot, thus preventing downward movement of the pusher, and achannel-shaped member 92 is secured to the bottom of the pusher, as isclearly shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, thus preventing upward movement ofthe pusher. The channel-shaped member 82 preferably functions as asupport or housing carrying the detent mechanism previously referred to,and this has the advantage that the detent roller is pushed hard intothe detent teeth at the time of the printing operation, thus insuringaccurate registration. The resistance of the detent is reduced toA acomparatively light amount when the printing Wheels are separated, thusmaking it easy to rotate the wheels to the desired setting each time anew character is to be printed.

Operating handle 22 may be formed by pressing heavy gauge sheet metal insuitable dies. The handle is pivoted at 94 between ears 96 struckupwardly from base I2. The operating lever is connected to pusher 24 bymeans of a link 98 which may be formed of sheet metal bent tochannel-shaped cross-section. The connection between the operating leverand the pusher will be evident from inspection of Figs. 21 and 8. ItWill also be evident that when the handle is depressed, thus moving itfrom the solid tothe broken line position shown in Fig.` 8, the pushermoves wheel I6 against wheel I4 with a very substantial increase inleverage. The motion of the handle may, if desired, be limited by anappropriate stop screw |00.

The tape is preferably made of a thin, soft metal. 'Ihe roll of tape maybe loaded into housing 38 by simply unscrewing the screw |82, best shownin Figs. 1, 3, and 4. When centering screw |82 is removed, the cover |04of housing 38 may be lifted, whereupon a roll |86 of the metal tape maybe dropped inside the peripheral wall |88 of the housing. This wall isinterrupted to form the discharge passage III), best shown in Fig. 1.

Cover I |34 is flanged to fit around wall |08, but the ange is alsointerrupted at the discharge passage, as will be seen in Fig. 3.

The metal tape is led from housing 30 to feed rolls 26 and 28. These arepreferably provided with a frictional surface and may, for example, bemade of rubber. In the present case, only one of the feed rolls ispositively driven, it being intermittently rotated by pawl and ratchetmechanism next described with particular reference to Figs. 6, 7, and8vof the drawings. The lower end of the shaft of wheel 28 carries aratchet wheel II2. I'his is surrounded by an oscillatable pawl guideII4. In the present case, the pawl consists of a pin I I8 which alsofunctions to pivot guide I I4 to a link I I8 which extends all the wayback to the lower end |28 of the operating lever. Pawl guide I I4 isslotted at |2I and the shaft |22 of the feed roller passes through theslotV I2I. A restoring spring |24 is tensioned between one wall of baseI 2 and the end of link I I8. The main function of spring |24 is to pullthe `operating lever '22 to its upward position, as is shown in Fig. 8.However, referring to Fig. 6, it will be noted that spring |24 is notaligned with link I I8, but instead is so directed as to tend to pulllink ||8 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 6. In this way, spring |24fullls the auxiliary function of moving pawl pin I I6 against the teethof ratchet wheel H2. Pawl pin I I6 can move radially outwardly `whenpassing backwardly over the pawl teeth, as is shown in Fig. 7, becauseof the slot I2 On examining the drawings, it will be seen that downwardmovement of the operating handle 22 causes a rearward movement of linkH8, and this causes the pawl pin H6 to be moved rearwardly over aratchet tooth without, however,` producing any movement of the ratchetwheel. During the upward or resto-ring movement of handle 22, the linkH8 moves forwardly under the influence of spring |24, and at this timethe pawl pin H6 moves ratchet wheel H2, thus feeding a new section ofthe metal tape to the embossing wheels preparatory to the next printingoperation or the next depression of the operating handle.

Reverting now to Fig. l, the tape may, if desired, be additionallyguided by metal guide rollers |26. The shafts cf these guide rollersalso serve to hold a top bearing plate |28 in position, said bearingplate receiving the upper ends of the shafts of the feed wheels 26 and28. Plate |28 also holds the metaltape against upward movement, the tapebeing guided between the top of base I2 and the bottom of plate |28. l

After passing the printing wheels I4 and I 6, the metal tape runsthrough the cutting-ofi' mechanism 32. This mechanism comprises a pairof spaced die plates |36, said plates being cut out, as indicated at|32, to receive the punch or male die element |34. The punch |34 issecured to the sidewardly bent end |36 of a plate |38 which is slidablein a bearing or `guide |40. Guide |453 is formed at the upper edge of aplate |42 secured to the side of base I2. An operating arm` IM ispivoted at |46 and is normally moved upwardly by a restoring spring |48.The upper end of arm IM is bent sidewardly to form the handle 3dpreviously referred to. The slide bar |33 is connected to operating armM4 by means of a pin |56, this pin preferably being received in a sloton arm I 54 in order to allow for angularity of the arm during itsoperating movement. On examination of Fig. 2, it will be understood thatupon depressing handle 34, the slide |38 is moved forwardly, thusforcing punch I 311 through die plates ISS. In accordance with regulardie practice, the punch |34 has a configuration accurately fitting thedie openings |32 in plate |30, and the `metal tape has a correspondingportion thereof cut away, as is indicated in Fig. 5. The punch cuts awaythe part |52, thus providing the printed sections of tape withornamental ends, as is indicated at |54.

It is believed that the construction and operation'of our improvedembossing machine, as well as the advantages thereof, will be apparentfrom the foregoing detailed description. The printing wheels are readilymoved to set the same for the desired character to be printed, thisbeing done by simply spinning the knob I8. Both wheels turn in unisonbecause of their gear connection. The necessarygearing is simplified andreduced in cost by simply using two spur gears which may be stamped fromheavy gauge sheet metal. The movable: wheel is carried in a movablebearing but the high pressure printing movement of the wheels is notapplied to the bearing. Instead, the operating handle moves a pusherwhich bears directly against the movable wheel at a point diametricallyopposite the stationary wheel, thereby moving the wheels together forprinting engagement. The wheels are properly registered by thetightening of the gear mesh and by means of detent wheels which servethe additional function of keeping the spur gears in edge-to-edge mesh.The detent is yieldably moved against the detent wheels with aA variablepressure, the pressure being Very light when selecting the letters to beprinted, but being suitably increased during the printing operation.This result is obtained by the comparatively simple expedient ofmounting the detent on the pusher block. The tape is fed with anintermittent step-by-step movement, it being moved dur'- ing the upwardor restoring movement of the operating handle. `The printing wheels aresupported against wobble and the tape is guided against transversemovement by utilizing the top of the base `of the machine as a supportfor the printing wheels and the tape. The parts are all made of sheetmetal shaped up in suitable dies, except for a few parts, specifically,the printing wheels, the bearings for the same, and the pusher block,which, however, may also be made inexpensively by die-casting the same.

It will be apparent that while we have shown and described our inventionin a preferred form,

many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention defined in thefollowing claims.

We claim:

l. A toy embossing machine comprising stationary and movable printingwheels, and means to bring said wheels together for the `desiredprinting operation, said means including a pusher block disposed nearthe periphery of the movable wheel at a point diametrically opposite thestationary wheel, an operating lever, and means whereby movement of theoperating lever moves the pusher block against the movable wheel andfurther, and thereby moves the wheels into printing engagement.

2. A toy embossing machine comprising stationary and movable printingwheels, means to rotate one of said wheels to print a desired letter,

gearing for rotating said wheels in unison so as,

to keep the wheels in registration, and means to bring said wheelstogether for the desired printing operation, said means including apusher blo-ck disposed near the periphery of the movable wheel `at apoint diametrically opposite the stationary wheel, an operating lever,and means whereby movement of the operating lever moves the pusher blockagainst the movable wheel and further, and thereby moves the wheels intoprinting engagement.

3. A toy embossing machine comprising relatively movable printing wheelsrotatably mounted with their axes parallel, one of said wheels be-r ingjournalled in a stationary bearing and the other in a movable bearing,said movable bearing being slidably mounted for bodily transversemovement of the movable wheel while maintaining the axes of the wheelsparallel, means for rotating one of said wheels, directly meshing spurgears secured `to said wheels, the teeth of said gears being so largethat they remain in mesh `during movement of the movable wheel, anoperating lever, and means whereby said operating lever moves themovable wheel toward the stationary wheel.

4. A toy embossing machine comprising relatively movable printingwheels, one of said wheels being journalled in a stationary bearing andthe other in a movable bearing, means for rotating' one of said wheels,sheet metal spur gears secured to said Wheels in mesh, detent wheels`formed of sheet metal and disposed on opposite sides of one of saidspur gears, said detent wheels 4being larger in diameter than said onegear and overlapping the other gear, thereby keeping the gears in mesh,the vteeth of said gears remaining in mesh during movement of themovable wheel, and a yieldable detent cooperating with the peripheriesof the detent wheels.

5. A toy embossing machine comprising relatively movable printingwheels, one of said wheels being journalled in a stationary bearing andthe other in a movable bearing, means for rotating one of said wheels,sheet metal spur gears secured to said wheels in mesh, detent wheelsformed of sheet metal and disposed on opposite sides of one of saidgears, said detent wheels being larger in diameter than said one gearand overlapping the other gear, thereby keeping the gears in mesh, theteeth of said gears remaining in mesh during movement of the movablewheel, a yieldable detent cooperating with the peripheries of the detentwheels, an operating lever, a pusher disposed near the periphery of themovable wheel at a point opposite the stationary wheel, and meansbetween said operating lever and pusher for moving the pusher andmovable wheel toward the stationary wheel.

6. A toy embossing machine comprising relatively movable ,printingwheels, one of said wheels being journalled in a stationary bearing andthe other in a movable bearing, means for rotating one 4of said wheels,sheet metal spur gears secured to said Wheels in mesh, detent wheelsformed of sheet metal and disposed on opposite sides of one of saidgears, said detent wheels being larger in diameter than said one gearand overlapping the other gear, thereby keeping the gears in mesh, theteeth of said gears remaining in mesh during movement of the movablewheel, a yieldable detent cooperating with the peripheries of the detentwheels, an operating lever, a pusher block disposed near the peripheryof the movable wheel at a point opposite lthe stationary wheel, andmeans between said operating lever and pusher block for moving thepusher block and movable wheel toward the stationary wheel, said detentbeing mounted on said pusher block.

7. A toy metal embossing machine comprising a generally flat horizontalbase Xedly carrying one vertical bearing and movably carrying anothervertical bearing, a printing wheel Aresting on top of said base andjournalled in said fixed bearing, a mating printing wheel resting on topof said base and journalled in said movable bearing, a pusher slidablymounted on said base adjacent the periphery of the movable wheel at apoint opposite the stationary wheel, means for rotating said wheels, amain operatinghandle, and appropriate linkage between said handle andsaid pusher.

8. A toy metal embossing machine comprising a generally flat horizontalbase lxedly carrying one vertical bearing and movably carryinganothervertical bearing, a printing wheel resting on top of said base andjournalled in said iXed bearing, a mating printing wheel resting on topof said base and journalled in said movable bearing, a pusher slidablymounted on said base adjacent the periphery of the movable wheel at apoint opposite the stationary wheel, means for rotating one of saidWheels, gearing within said base for causing simultaneous rotation ofthe wheels, detent mechanism in said base for causing registration ofthe wheels, a main operating handle, and appropriate linkagebetween saidhandle and said pusher.

9. A toy embossing machine comprising a rst printing wheel rotatable inastationary bearing, a second :printing Wheel rotatable in a bearingmounted for movement toward or away from the first printing wheel, meansfor turning said Wheels, a detent wheel mounted for rotation with saidmovable wheel, an operating lever, a pusher block disposed near theperiphery of the movable wheel at a point diametrically Iopposite thestationary wheel, a detent yieldably mounted on said pusher block forcooperation with the detent wheel, and linkage whereby movement of theoperating lever moves the pusher block against the movablewheel andfurther, and thereby moves the wheels into printing engagement.

10. A toy embossing machine comprising a first printing wheel rotatablein a stationary bearing, a spur gear rotatable with said printing Wheel,a second printing wheel rotatable in a bearing mounted `for movementtoward or away from the iirst prin-ting wheel, a mating spur gearrotatable with said second printing wheel and meshing with the gear ofthe first printing wheel, the teeth of saidY gears being so arrangedthat; they remain in mesh when the wheels are separated and yet permitmovement of the movable wheel toward the stationary wheel for theprinting operation, means for rotating one of said'wheels, an operatinglever, a pusher block' disposed at the periphery or" the movable wheelat a point diametrically opposite the stationary wheel, and linkagewhereby movement of the operating lever moves the pusher block againstthe movable wheel and further, and thereby moves the wheels intoprinting engagement.

` 11. Atoy embossing machine comprising a Iirst printing Wheel rotatablein a stationary bearing, a spur gear rotatable with said printing wheel,a second printing wheel rotatable in a bearing mounted for movementtoward or away from the iirst printing wheel, a mating spur gearrotatable with said second printing wheel and meshing with the gear ofthe rst printing Wheel, the teeth of vsaid gears being so arranged thatthey remain in mesh when the wheels are separated and yet permitmovement of the movable wheel toward the stationary wheel for theprinting operation, means for rotating one of said Wheels, a detentwheel mounted for rotation with said movable wheel, an operating lever,a pusher block disposed near the periphery of the movable wheel at apoint diametrically opposite the stationary wheel, a detent yieldablymounted on said pusher block for cooperation with the detent wheel, andlinkage whereby movement of the operating lever moves the pusher blockagainst the movable wheel and further, and thereby moves the wheels intoprinting engagement.

12. A toy metal embossing machine comprising a generally at horizontalbase, a pair of printing wheels arranged with their axes perpendicularto the base and having large-diameter portions resting directly on topof said base, means for rotating said wheels to select a character to beprinted, and means for relatively moving said wheels toward one anotherto print the character.

13. A toy metal embossing machine comprising a generally iiat horizontalbase having a downwardly turned peripheral ilange, a pair of printingwheels arranged with their axes perpendicular to the base, said printingWheels each having a top face and a relatively `broad downwardlyextendingy periphery resting on saidrbase as Well as a downwardlyextending shaft at the center, bearings for said shafts mounted on saidbase, one of said bearings being slidably mounted on the base so thatthe printing wheels may be relativelyy moved toward orvaway from oneanother,4 said bearings projecting upwardly from the base into thehollow space formed within the Wheels, whereby the hollow interior ofthe base is left clear ty receive the operating mechanism of theembossing machine including appropriate gearing secured to the lowerends of the shafts of the wheels Within the base.

14. A toy metal embossing machine comprising a generally iiat horizontalbase, a pair of printing Wheels arranged with their axes perpendicularto the base and having large-diameter portions resting directly on topof said base, means for rotating said wheels to select a character to beprinted, means for relatively moving said wheels toward one another toprint the character, feed mechanism on said base near said Wheels forfeeding a metal tape between the wheels, said feed mechanism comprisinga pair of feed Wheels arranged with their axes perpendicular to the baseand having their lower ends resting directly on the base, whereby thelower edge of the metal tape rests on and is guided by the base as itmoves through the feed wheels and through the printing wheels.

15. A toy metal embossing machine comprising a generally dat horizontalbase xedly carrying one vertical bearing and movably carrying anothervertical bearing, a printing wheel'having a large-diameter portionresting directly on top of said base and journalled in said xed bearing,a mating printing wheel having a large-diameter portion resting directlyon top of said base and journalled in said movable bearing, means formoving the movable Wheel toward or away from `the stationary wheel,means for rotating said printing.

wheels, a housing for a roll of metal tape disposed on top of said base,said roll of tape rest- `ing directly on said base, feedvmechanism onrests on and is guided by the base as it moves l through the feedmechanism and the printing wheels.

16. A toy embossing machine comprising relatively movableiirst andsecond printing wheels, means for turning said wheels in unison, ahandle for moving said wheels together to print a character, a detentwheel mounted for rotation with one of said wheels, a detent cooperatingwith said detent wheel, and linkage between said handle and detent formoving the same, the arrangement being such that the d-etent pressure islight when the wheels are being rotated While separated, but is heavyduring the printing operation.

17. A toy embossing machine comprisinga first printing wheel rotatablein a. stationary bearing, a second printing wheel rotatable in a bearingmounted for movement toward or away from the rst printing wheel, meansfor turning said Wheels in unison, a detent wheel mounted for rotationwith one of said wheels, a pusher block disposed near the periphery ofthe movable wheel at a point diametrically opposite the stationarywheel, means for moving the same tov cause the wheels to print, a detentyieldably mounted on said pusher block for cooperation with the detentwheel, the arrangement being such that the detent pressure is light whenthe wheels are being rotated, but is heavy when WILLIS E. REXF'ORD.RAYMOND LO'HR.

